rules shmools

I was riding on the sidewalk, yes, the sidewalk, because it is the best route to the main road from my house, snow-wise. It’s a bit slow, this”riding” on the sidewalk, because I have to pay attention to pedestrians, and puppies. They have the right of way you see, and I don’t want to startle them. They are delicate birds, protective of their turf, and so they should be!
There was a woman in front of me in the “middle lane” I hung back, no sense in making her lurch. When the sidewalk widened, with my most cheerful chipper voice and smile I asked if I could squeeze by on her left. I usually get a pretty good response to a chipper voice and a smile.
She turned around and scowled. “Yer not supposed to ride on the sidewalk nya nya nya…,” I’m almost certain I heard her whine over the sound of my headphones. A response not unprecedented.
“Yea, I know”, I sighed as I passed, giving her plenty of room.  What I wish I had said was: “Thank you for sharing!”
What I wanted to say was: “What are you? Five? You gonna tell your mommy? Have you seen a bike path lately? Would you walk on a street so narrow with snowbanks on either side, it’s barely wide enough to fit the 2-ton murder weapon it was plowed for?  You think this is embarrassing for you? Finding a patient cyclist behind you hoping to pass by?  Try looking over your shoulder and finding a line up of five homicidal drivers!”

Yes, I know riding on the sidewalk is illegal in the city of Toronto, but that’s not really a logical argument, is it? That’s like saying: “You’re stupid, it’s true, because Lisa thinks you’re stupid, too!”  I think you’ll find that if you didn’t have that argument, what I mean is, if it weren’t illegal to ride on the sidewalk in Toronto, there would be no reason why pedestrians and cyclists can’t share a sidewalk – they already share bike paths –  provided mutual respect and rules of clear communication are in place.
The only reason it’s illegal is that people generally can’t predict the outcome of their actions. Let’s face it, most laws are made for those to whom consideration for others does not come naturally.
Cyclists are at least as vulnerable as pedestrians, more so, because if we fall we have a longer way down! If the street seems too dangerous, and the sidewalk is nearly deserted and 6 feet wide, I will choose the sidewalk.
Thank you for sharing!